Kerry Proposes New Initiative to Keep Terrorists from Acquiring Nuclear Weapons

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Kerry Proposes New Initiative to Keep Terrorists from Acquiring Nuclear Weapons

June 01, 2004
Kerry Campaign Press Release

West Palm Beach, FL -- Drawing on his four new imperatives for national security, Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry Tuesday outlined his plan to combat the greatest threat now facing our country - the possibility of al Qaeda or other terrorists getting their hands on a nuclear weapon.The key ingredients needed to make nuclear weapons sit in hundreds of sites and dozens of countries across the globe. Osama bin Laden has called obtaining a weapon of mass destruction a “religious duty.” Kerry said today that defeating this danger will require a new approach to national security and new leadership to repair alliances that have been shredded.

“Today, I am proposing a new initiative to prevent the world’s deadliest weapons from falling into the world’s most dangerous hands,” Kerry said. “If we secure all bomb making materials, ensure that no new materials are produced for nuclear weapons and end nuclear weapons programs in hostile states like North Korea and Iran, we will dramatically reduce the possibility of nuclear terrorism.”

Kerry emphasized that the world has changed and the enemy we face is different. He reiterated his call for a new national security policy based on four new imperatives: build and lead a new era of alliances; modernize the world’s most powerful military; make full use of our diplomatic, intelligence and economic power; and free America from its dangerous dependence on Mideast oil.

Using these imperatives, Kerry pledged today to use the full might of America and its allies to defeat nuclear terrorism. It is a goal Kerry said we can and must achieve with the help of our allies.

“We need to employ a layered strategy to keep the worst weapons from falling into the worst hands,” Kerry said. “A strategy that invokes our non-military strength early enough and effectively enough so military force doesn’t become our only option. America must lead and build an international consensus for early preventive action. We must secure all dangerous material, so that states don’t even think of taking the nuclear road and stop potential trafficking in nuclear technology.”

First, Kerry emphasized that we need to break through the bureaucratic logjams and safeguard nuclear materials worldwide within four years. Kerry will make securing weapons and materials in the former Soviet Union a priority in relations between the United States and Russia and work with our allies to establish global standards for safekeeping of nuclear materials.

Second, Kerry said we need to prevent new nuclear materials from being created. Kerry will lead an international coalition for a global ban on production of material for new nuclear weapons.

Third, Kerry said we must reduce existing stocks of nuclear materials and weapons. As President, he said the US will lead by example by stopping development of a new generation of nuclear weapons and accelerating reductions in the US and Russian nuclear arsenals. He will also work with the Russians to “blend down” and dispose of stocks of existing nuclear materials

Fourth, Kerry will make it a priority to end nuclear weapons programs in states like North Korea and Iran. As President, Kerry will continue the six party negotiations with the North Koreans but will also be prepared to talk directly with North Korea. In Iran, Kerry will support the International Atomic Energy Agency’s efforts to discern the full extent of Iran’s nuclear program, while pushing Iran to agree to a verifiable and permanent suspension of its enrichment and reprocessing programs. Kerry will also strengthen the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty by closing the loophole that allows countries like Iran and North Korea to use civilian nuclear power programs as cover for weapons development.

Fifth, Kerry will strengthen our ability to prevent trafficking in bomb making materials and components by toughening export controls, stiffening penalties and strengthening law enforcement and intelligence sharing.

Finally, Kerry said he will make preventing nuclear terrorism a top national security priority. His plan will appoint a National Coordinator for Nuclear Terrorism and Counterproliferation who will focus fulltime on securing nuclear weapons and materials around the world. Kerry’s plan will also make preventing nuclear terrorism a Cabinet-level priority.

“We have to do everything we can to stop a nuclear weapon from ever reaching our shore—and that mission begins far away,” Kerry said. “We have to secure nuclear weapons and materials around the world so that searching the containers here at the Port of Palm Beach isn’t our only line of defense—it is our last line of defense.”

Last Thursday, Kerry began an 11-day focus on national security with a call for a new national security policy based on four new imperatives.

- www.johnjerry.com